The goal of Rennie Harris Puremovement is to empower community through history, embodied movement, and dialogue surrounding the roots, power, and politics behind Hip-hop culture’s origins. This multi-dimensional exploration incorporates body awareness, physical practice, and lecture-demonstration. Characterized as a contemporary indigenous form, Street Dance encompasses the diverse and rich African American traditions of the past, while simultaneously presenting the voice of a new generation through its ever-evolving interpretations of dance. We seek to give the student a deeper sense of self, purpose, and individual power as they engage in our educational programs. Students develop their voices through this dynamic and holistic approach to learning the history of Street Dance and Hip-hop culture. 

This class features 1-2 Rennie Harris Puremovement company members teaching Street dance technique in styles such as, but not limited to: Popping, Campbell Locking, House, Hip-hop, Wu-Tang, Waacking, and Breaking. Students will receive an outline Hip-hop dance and culture timeline, including details on innovation/creation periods and pioneers. Community members gain a contextual and historical understanding of Street dance and its roots, identifying basic style, technique and vocabulary of various Street dance styles that are associated with and/or considered Hip-hop dance and identifying the pioneers and innovators of Hip-hop and funk styles.

Class will include a thorough warm-up, foundational technique study, across-the-floor, sequencing, and culminate with a post class discussion.